The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 39: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Cp OZ 7 THE MYSTERIES oF LONDON, “ Well—so he does: but I always pretend to listen to them—and thus ] tov ; fo... S$ he enjoys the reputation of havine | mice! <~- of the Court.” “8 | Ausstoners, counsel, and lawyers returned to their the'vere, Wes to dine with Serjeant Splutterby this ee i Gen eon Ge one and Hse “Tam bocstot Shall Jeave at about four o'clock.” Curtis!” ales forth the name of « Frans evening—nand son nije CO™Missioner Sneesby. © J “Very well,” said "Mit yee ete Ot is eae Ba. E : TN shall sit till six. But what ale Wwe todo‘ehd™ad canting hypocrite of an Insolyent?” “Six months, I suppose: he is a dreadful villain.” *Yes—and while you were asleep he made afright- ful long speech———” “Oh! in that case, then, Ict us give hima twelve- | Caprary O’BLunpeEnnuss surveyed his friend with a month—and then for the chops and the sherry.” degree of admiration amounting almost to envy, as the “Good: a twelvemonth—and then the chops and | latter leapt nimbly into the box; but when the two the sherry.” Commissioners inflicted upon the Insolyent the simul- Mr. Commissioner Sneesby, having thus assented to } taneous long stare which seemed to form a portion of the suggestions of his sleepy coadjutor, turned in a | the judicial proceedings, the gallant officer fixed upon xolemn manner towards Mr. Joshua Sheepshanks and | those learned functionaries a look of the most ferocious addressed that miserable-looking creature in the fol- | menace,—muttering at the same time something about lowing terms :— the “punching of heads.” As for Mr, Frank Curtis, “Insolvent, the Court has maturely deliberated | he returned the stare of the Commissioners {n so deli- upon your case. We have listened with deep atten- } beratcly impudent and yet good-humonred a manner tion to the evidence of the opposing ereditors and the | that it was quite evident the physiognomical discrimi- address of the learned counsel on their behalf. We | nation of the bench was at Ieast for once completely have likewise followed you with equal care throughout | set at naught. In plain terms, the Commissioners did your defence; and we feel ourselves bound to pro-| not know what the deuce to make of the young nounce an adverse judgment. Your conduct has been | gentleman. most reprehensible—aggravated, too, by the fact that} “Iappear for the Insolvent, sir,” said one of the your offences have been committed under the cloak | learned counsel, Mr. Cadgerbreef by name. of religion. My learned brother agrees with me in “And T attend for an opposing creditor, sir,” ob- the opinion that your proceedings have been most { served Mr. Bulliwell, fraudulent. We might even use harsher terms; but] The Clerk of the Court handed up the schedule to we will forbear. The judgment of the Court is that | the Commissioners, who occupied some minutes in you, Joshua Sheepshanks, be remanded at the suit of Jlooking over it, the document being somewhat a2 vour three opposing creditors for the period of twelve j lengthy one. zalendar months from the date of your vesting order.” “JT see you have got upwards of a hundred and fifty “ Stand down, Insolvent!” eried the clerk, creditors, Insolvent,” said Mr, Commissioner Sneesby, The discomfitted Mr. Sheepshanks raised his eyes} fixing his eyes severely upon the youthful candidate and hands upwards, and gave vent to a hollow grvuan, | for the process of white-washing. which made the audience think for a moment thatit| “Be Jasus! and my frind’s a Jintleman — every was a ghost from the tonb who was passing through {inch of him!” cried Captain O’Blunderbusss: “and the Insolvents’ Court. no jintleman could think of petitioning the Court with “Silence, Insolvent!” voeiferated an official, making } less than a hunthred and fifty creditors,” muel, mere noise to enforee his command than the} The whole Court was struck with dismay—the bench pious gentleman did in provoking the injunction. being perfectly aghast~at this interruption; while “You must swear to your schedule,” said the usher, | the captain stood as dauntless and menacing as if he as Mr. Sheepshanks wns descending from the box. seriously contemplated the challenging of Commis- “Damn the schedule!” muttered the reverend In- | sioners, learned counsel, lawyers, and all. Even the solvent, in a savage whisper. usher was so astounded by his conduct that he forgot “What do you say?” demanded the usher. to baw! out his usual noisy cry for silence. “Y pray to heaven tohave mercy upon my relentless} “ Who is this person?” enquired Mr. Commissioner persecntors, even as I forgive them!” answered Mr. | Sneesby, turning towards his brother-judge, as if the Sheepshanks, with a solemn shake of the head. latter new any better than himself. He then quitted the box, and forthwith accompanied |“ Person, be Jasus! Don’t call mea person,” vocife- the tipstaff who had charge of him to the public-house | rated the gallant gentleman, stamping his martial foot opposite, where he drowned luis caresin such a quantity | heavily upon the floor, “Js it me name yve'd be of hot brandy-and-water, that the tipstaft aforesaid | afther finding out? If so, I’lbhand ye my car-r-d was compelled to put him inte a cab and convey him | —and you'll find that I’m Capthain O’Bluntherbues, back to the King’s Bench in a desperate state of in- | of Bluntherbuss Park, Connemar-r-ra, Ir-r-retand t ” toxication. added the Insolvent’s bosom-friend, rattling the r in In the meantime the two Commissioners retired to} sneh an appalling manner that it seemed as if 2 partake of their chops and sherry: the learned counsel | waggon laden with iron bars was passing thfough the likewise withdrew to the:r private room, where they } Court. also refreshed themselves;—the attorneys slole away | “Tum him ont!” exclaimed Me, Commissioner for a quarter of an hour :—and the audience took little | Sneesby. portable dinners of saveloys and biscuits from their “Be Jasus! and it'll take tin of ve to do that!” pocket-handkerchiefs, so that the compartment of the } ejaculated the captain, taking so firm and dauntles a Court allotted to spectators suddenly appeared to have | stand that he appeared literally nailed to the grounu. been transformed into a slap-bang shop on an inferior | “But we'll make a compromise, if ve plaze —and scale, that is, I°N hould my tongue.” r ° The fifteen minutes’ Grace having expired, Com- CHAPTER CXIX, THE EXAMUNATION OF MR, FRANIC CURTIS. wre rms ee oo ee ee ewe te ee ee oe car ee eee oe a ee et ~~ ew _— >= _—=— - —- - etre er COA GIOOKS (SO)